[Analyzing correlation between neurophysiological parameters and level of stress hormone cortisol in aging]

A correlation between the serum levels of the stress hormone cortisole, neurophysiological parameters, and age was examined in 23 elderly healthy examinees (whose mean age was 65.7 +/- 2.1 years). The latency of the components of visual evoked potentials (VEP) was found to progressively increase with age. The individuals having high cortisole levels showed an increase in the latency of late VEP components associated with accelerated ageing and/or with the degenerative changes in the brain limbicoreticulocortical pathways. The DC potential level (DCPL) reflecting the intensity of brain energy expenditures correlated with the content of cortisole. Increased DCPL and longer latency of late VEP components were interrelated. It is suggested that high cortisole level produces a neurotoxic action and promotes accelerated ageing of brain regions having glucocorticoid receptors. Imbalance between the significant intensification of catabolic processes, the rise of energy expenditures and the limited increase in anabolism in elderly age is a course of this process.